Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



MamB, 1923 1. F. OCONNOB. FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FILED MAY 5,1921.

' 1 fla may 1 jest Heme-z in Figure liner F, it being understood that the inner face of each plate F constitutes a friction thereof, the member A is recessed on its upper and lower walls as indicated at 2121 3 and in said recessed portions 21 are provided transversely extending front flanges 22- 22, intermediate transversely extending ribs 2323 and rear transversely extending ribs 24-24. The flanges 22 provide rearwardly facing shouL ders and the ribs 23 and 24 provide forwardly facing shoulders cooperating res ect-ively with the forwardly facing shoul ers 122 and rearwardly facing shoulders 123 and 1 24 of the central series of stationary friction plates E. With this construction it is evident that the plates E are held against movement longitudinally relatively to the member A but are responsive to laterally applied pressure.

The central series of movable friction plates G are preferably fiat rectangular platesof the same character as the outer movable friction plates H. The plates G are intercalated and.preferably alternated with the stationary friction plates E, there being one more movable plate G than stationary plate E so as to bring the outermost plates movable as clearly appears from Figures 1 and 3. The stationary plates E are of generally I-cross section so as to thereby provide suitable guiding grooves or channels for the plates G. The depth of said grooves 525 and the thickness of the plates G are so proportioned as to leave spaces 26 between the thickened edges of the plates-E. The central stationary plate E is made somewhat thicker than the two side plates E, as shown in Figure 3, in order to provide upper and lower longitudinally extending grooves 27-27 to accommodate the retainer bolts N.

The follower C is of rectangular form and preferably, on its inner face, is provided with a hardened plate insert 28 against (iii which the wedge elements J bear and also the outer ends of the plates G and H, after the follower C has moved a half inch or so relatively to the member A, as hereinafter descrihed.

Tf'he spring follower D is laterally eX tended. so to provide bearings for the forward ends of both of the twin springs I and preferably the member A will be notched on each side thereof as indicated at to acwmmodate the extreme edges of the follower D and permit the rear face of the latter to lie substantially flush with the inv ner vertical edges of the side walls 19; On its forward. side, the follower D is provided with two laterally spaced projections 30-30 which straddle the centrall dispomd group of intercalated friction p ates and extend loosely between the central group and the respective side groups of friction plates. The forward end of each extension 30 is formed with a flat transversely extendin bearing face 31 against"which rests an bears the corresponding adjacent transverse face 32 of the wedge element K. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 1 that the inner face of all of the relatively movable plates G and H normally bear against the follower D.

The wedging system in each space be tween the central group of friction elements and corresponding side Jgroupkconsists of and the two wedge elements as hereinbefore mentioned. Each element K, in add'ition to its transverse bearing face 32 is provided on its inner side with awedge roll seat 33 inclined tothe axle of the mechanisln, a roll stop shoulder 34 being formed at the end of the roll seat in order to assist in holding the roller L in proper position. On its outer side, each element K extends parallel to the center line of themechanism and in order to reduce the possible friction between each element K and corresponding friction plate H, anti-friction means in theform of an anti-friction pad insert 35 is employed. Each insert may be of any suitable so-called anti-friction ma terial such as phosphor-bronze. The inserts '35 are preferably applied to the members K by forming the latter with undercut dovetailed grooves and sliding the inserts 35 lon-v gitudinally within said crooves, as indicated in Figures 1 and 6. 1521011 wedge member J is formed at its outer end with a transversely extending bearing surface 36 which engages the inner face of the front follower (3. The inner side of each. member J extends parallel to the center line of the mechanism and in order to reduce the possible friction between the members J and the central groupoffriction plates, antifriction pads or inserts: 37 are applied to the members J, said pads or inserts :being of the same material and form as the in sorts In this connection, it will be noted that the activefaces of the pads 35 and 37 -project outwardly beyond the adjacent parallel faces of the wedge elements so as to insure the hearing taking place on the pads and not on the main portions of the wedge elements J and K. On its outer side, each element J is formed with a wedge roller seat 38 arranged parallel to the corresponding roller seat 37 and iL-CQITQSPOIldlDg roller stop shoulder 39 is formed at the inner and mea re? The operation of the device is as follows,

assuming an inward or bui'i'ing mcvement 0f the drawbar; As the drawbar moves in wuz-(lly, the follower C is moved uniformly therewith, thus facing the Wedge elements J longitudinally inwardly 01 the member A the latter acting; as accliLmi'i-leacl-susteiiv ing member and follower in ceiijiinctien with the rear step lugs 12. Because of the space llflln'lllij" leit betweenthe miter ends of the plates G and H, e epprcximating none at said plates G er he moved during the first pert ei the mere ment cf the follower 3. As the Wedge elements J are forcedv inwardly, they in turn tend to iii-eve relatively longitudinelly 015 the Werige elements which ere resisted by the springs E reacting through the fellcwer l) The Wedging or letemhpressuiecreeting action i thus immediately instituted, fuming the z 'ivahle and stationery frictien plates of all into tight irictienel centric-t, the ceiilii'erl .greiip of plates being pressed from both sides inwardly toward. the central line 01? the mechanism, es will he mulcrsteeil. The inward movement trans mitterl to the i elements l5 ehviously le ees the ii inwardly e einst the uielfling resiste-ii'i' 0f the springs l3 and thus the follower i en of the iizitiei streke Sub-0V6 de- 5 riheil. engi cs with the plates (l and end the lather are then fen-ml lqngitudiiially iii unison with iiiltfi follower w l the wcdg'ingsysteinsv At this point it will he noted that, at the time the friction plates l .encl H are first set in motion. the \veilging or pressure action will here been imposel thereon so that the desired degree at" friction hetween the movll)l(* and siiltifillfily plates is thereelftcr pres on: for the remainder of the cmiipressicn The end at the compression stroke. "mined hvthe follower (J he memher surfaces in many types of irieeien l le frieticri tending friction viewed in Figure 1. This action is deeppesecl by any of the friction plates for the reason that the fellower D has been moved cut of contact therewith, as previously pleined. Qonsequently, the elements of each wedging system are not only free to move in e releasing direction relatively toward each other but each system may he easily pushed outwardly with respect the the ve-ri ons groups of frictien plates under the in"- fiuenee of the fellewer D. The initial release action j st described obvicusly relieves the pressure on the fricticn elements and;

continues until the fellower D engages the inner ends of the movable friction pletes G and H. -Thereafter, the continued cut-- ward movement of the follow-e. L under the influence of the springs B, fercce the plates G and H back to their normal condition and all of the parts are restored, i'eedy i?or the second compressive stroke.

(in account ef the large number and area of the ceepereting frictien surfaces elie pressure exerted on each friction plate may he very materially reduced ceiiipereel else pressure required keeperetmg frietien new on the market, thus "*"X'Gii'zfli'l'ilg ifiilig life of the parts. it will. he eieervel else that evil minor shacks such as ecnstently occurring during a reietivei g/ steerly mcvemerit a train cf cars, may he eheerheii in.

the initial half inch movement cf the lower (1 witheut necessitating eey iictieii m;

the friction plates. iiiesmuch es seiil'miner shocks enceimtered in the cpere'tien of ears are so very much more numereiis their reederete or heavy shocks, it will I) appreciated that the life of the mechanism is very greatly lengthened; because of ilie feet their the friction plates are net brought into pley except comparatively infrequently. All of the friction plates may he meiieii ct recl in quantity at eeznperetively smell expense and are easily renewed thus minimizing the cost at maintaining the mechanism I have herein shown and descrihec'l What I now consider the preferrecl manner 01? car rying out my invention but, same is merely illustrative and if ccnteiiiplete all changes and medificetieris that acme Within the scope of the claims appended! harem.

I claim:

i, In e friction shack absorbing meshenism, the ccmbineticn with e cashing having at liellew casing at one end, a follower wall at thecther end and an intermediate spring cage, said casing beingprevided (iii the interior thereof on each side with zilengitudinell e2:-

surfece; M" a spring resist mice dispeseil within said cag a plurality of 'fi'ictieii plates clispeseii centrality Within and eiichereei lengitm emcii h ricer-eta hut i rel pressure; a plurality sustaining member having of relati i' ely movable longitudinally extending friction plates cooperable with said centrally disposed plates and said side friction surfaces'of said member, there being spaces left between the central group of friction plates and the side plates; a spring follower within said member interposed between the spring resistance and the inner ends of said movable friction plates normally engaging the latter; a wedging system on each side of" the central group of friction plates, each wedging system cooperating with the central group and an outside group of friction plates, each wedging system including, a pair of oppositely arrangedwedges, one of said wedges engaging the sprin follower and the other extending outwar y slightly beyond the outer edges of the movable friction plates; and an outer follower normally engaging the outer ends of said outermost wedges and slightly spaced from the outer ends of of the movable friction plates.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a column-loada plurality of longitudinally extending iction elements relatively immovable longitudinally of said member; of relatively longitudinally movable friction elements cooperable with said first named elements, the stationary and movable friction elements being divided into three groups with spaces between the central group and each outer group; a spring resistance; an outer follower movable relatively toward and from said member; and a lateral pressure-creating system in each of said spaces cooperable with said groups of friction elements.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism the combination with a column-loadsustaining member having a plurality of longitudinally extending friction elements relatively immovable longitudinally of said member; of relatively longitudinally movable friction elements cooperable with said first named elements, the stationary and movable friction elements being divided into three groups with spaces between the central group and each outer group; a spring resistance; an outer follower movable relatively, toward and from said member; and a lateralpressure creating system in each of said spaces cooperable with said groups of friction elements, said systems reacting at -one end against said outer follower and at the other end against the spring resistance, each of said pressure-creatlng systems comprising a pair of oppositely arranged relatively movable wedge elements.

4- In a friction shock absorbing mechanism the combination with a column-loadsustaining member having a. plurality of longitudinally extending friction elements relatively immovable longitudinally of said member; of relatively longitudinally mov able friction elements coop'erable with said.

first named elements, the stationary and movable friction elements being divided into three groups with spaces between the central group and each outer group; a spring resistance; an outer follower movable relatively toward and from said member; a spring follower disposed between said groups of friction elements and the spring resistance; a lateral pressure-creating system in each of said spaces, each system being interposedbetween the outer follower and the spring follower, and cooperating with the central and one outside group of said friction ele- 'ments; and anti-friction means interposed tively toward and from said member; a.

spring follower disposed between said groups of friction elements and the spring resistance; a lateral pressure-creating system in each of said spaces, each system being interposed between the outer follower and the spring follower and cooperating with the central and one outside group of said friction elements, each of said pressure-creating systems comprising a pair of oppositely arranged and relatively movable wedge elements; and anti-friction means interposed between each pair of said wedge elements.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of April, 1921.

' JOHN F. OCONNOR. Witnesses: r

Cnnnna GAILING, ANN BAKER. 

